Bananas take Philly, Chestnut takes on banana dogs, Animals sweep Norfolk
July 26, 2025: Texas Tailgaters 1(2) ~ Savannah Bananas 5(8) / Party Animals 4(10) ~ Texas Tailgaters 2(2)
Banana Ball returns to the city of brotherly love where the 28-23 Savannah Bananas take on the 4-9 Texas Tailgaters. One of those four wins was against the Bananas. This game was carried on ESPN and like with every Bananas game in a MLB stadium, we should expect some surprise walk-ons.
The Bananas will start with Noah Niznik on the bump. Zach Watson will lead off for the Tailgaters in the first. On the second pitch, Watson sends one out towards the left field foul pole. Bananas broadcaster Biko Skalla noted that some hands went up in the stands suggesting a foul out to a fan. The call on the field was a foul ball. The Bananas decided to challenge the call. When I reviewed the video (and yes, I can look at it one frame at a time as it was delivered over YouTube), I could not even see the ball. It appears the only angle they had was the high third base camera. No one could see it. Not Biko and Josh and not the Michi. The ruling on the field stands as a foul ball, thus wasting the Bananas’ challenge for the rest of the game. Watson would eventually get caught looking recording the first out of the game. Nick Lopez would fly out to center fielder DR Meadows for a behind the back trick play. A Taj Porter single would then get offset by a strikeout by Mac Danford to end the half.
Bottom of the first, DR Meadows who grounds to shortstop Jordan Hussein, who’s throw to first baseman Bret Carson was not in time, and the ‘Nanners have a lead-off hit. Ty Jackson would hop one to center and got on. Runners now on first and second for Dan Oberst. Oberst grounds to Hussein, Hussein to Jonathan Luders to get the force and second, back to Hussein, between the legs trick play to Carson, but the throw was high. One out with a runners on the corners. “Superman” Reese Alexiades comes to the plate. In a total little league kind of play, Oberst takes off from first and gets caught in a pickle. Meanwhile DR Meadows steals home from third, slides in and beats the throw. Bananas win the first inning.
Top of the third. Watson would ground it to Kyle Jackson at third and then to Jackson Olson covering second. Olson would catch the ball to make the the force play and then he would drop the ball. Hussein was called safe. Olsen and shortstop Ryan Cox were insisting that the force was made first and the runner should be out. While the clock was ticking, there was confusion on the field. The Bananas used their challenge in the second pitch of the first at bat of the game. The fans stepped-up to challenge the call. The question was whether Jackson had full control of the ball at the time when he put his right foot on the bag. My review showed that he did have control as the ball was firmly in the glove. Biko and Josh agreed and the call was overturned. Before the game, the fan representative was interviewed and she had stated she was previously a fan representative for a game at Fenway and in that case, she was successful. Well, I guess she’s now 2 for 2.
Between the innings, fans were treated to a hot dog eating contest between two of the Man Nanas (competing together) and the 17-time Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest champion, Joey Chestnut. The challenge is to see who can eat the most “banana dogs”1 within three minutes. While the eating contest is taking place, there’s a Banana Ball game being played at the same time. The contest is taking place in fair territory. This can get interesting. One minute into the contest, Chestnut is up on the dad-bods 5~4. Two minutes in, Chestnut is up 9~6. It’s not looking very promising for our Man Nanas. Final score in the contest, Joey Chestnut 14 ~ The Man Nanas 8. They interrupted an at bat with a 3-0 count on Bret Carson in order to crown the winner. Only at a Banana Ball game would you see this. Carson would eventually pop up to a Reese Alexiades tip drill trick play in right to end the inning. Only Banana Ball.. Only Banana Ball.
Now, back to the ball game part of this article. Top of the fifth, the Bananas send up Jared Donalson to the bump. After striking out Marcos Castillo (who was the Dunkin Donut hitter, meaning fans will get free donuts), Jonathan Luders would hit one into right center, missed by both Alexiades and Meadows for a stand-up double. It was scored as a trick play missed on Alexiades. Jorden Hussein would ground out advancing Luders to third. Zach Watson would wait it out for the ball four sprint that would bring home Luders. Nick Lopez would get on with a single. Taj Porter hops one to Alexiades in right who then bullets the ball non-stop to Bill LeRoy preventing Zach Watson at the plate. It was called out on the field, but the Tailgaters are challenging it. There was no clear evidence to overturn the call. Remember, Banana Ball uses their broadcasters to determine the challenges. They don’t have the luxury of the MLB Replay Center in New York at their disposal. Top of the fifth ends with the Tailgaters getting one run.
Bottom of the fifth. Dan Oberst hits one to deep right field off the glove of Indy Stanley and Oberst gets in with a stand-up double. James Taubl would deliver back to back ball four sprints to Reese Alexiades and Ryan Cox (who was escorted to the plate by Philadelphia Eagles’ head of security, “Big Dom”) to bring in Oberst and Alexiades, respectfully. Bananas win the inning and they are now 2~0 on points.
The Bananas brings up Dakota “Stilts” Albritton to pitch to switch-hitting Travis Miniot who hits into a between-the-legs trick play by Ryan Cox, the glove magician. The Bananas Corelle Prime would get on through a ball four sprint by Joe Sperone. Malachi Mitchell would come in to run and then “Flash” would get gunned down trying to steal second. Sperone would deliver another sprint to KJ Jackson who was able to pick up two bases. Eric Jones would line one down third, gets snatched up by Travis Moniot who nails the out at first. KJ advances to third. Bill LeRoy comes to the plate. The first pitch goes wild bringing KJ home and the Bananas win the inning. They are now up 3~0.
Top of the 7th,Bret Carson would send one to deep right and Alexiades shows us why they call him “Super Reece”. Marcus Castillo would get a stand-up double from a trick play missed by left fielder Ty Jackson. On the second pitch, Jonathan Luders would foul out to a fan. Jorden Hussein would then ground into a Jackson Olson between the legs trick play and we go into the stretch.
Bottom of the seventh and the ‘Gaters bring Brian Trepanier to the bump. Bill LeRoy, who never got his full at bat because of the sixth inning winning wild pitch comes back to the dish and then dishes one out over the right field wall for a walk-off home run. Bananas are now up 4~0 in points.
Let’s go to the bottom of the eighth and we have double eights coming to the plate. Bret Carson, who had been playing first and extra hitter now comes to the mound. As a pitcher, he has pitched 8.2 innings on this World Tour and has a 3.12 ERA. Jackson Olson, the original number 8 would ground to center to get on first. Jesse Cole then introduces another number 8, former Phillies player and 4-time Gold Glove winner, Shane Victorino. Shane grounds infield center, Jonathan Luders attempts a behind the back trick play, it misses Jorden Hussein and Victorino is on. Three at bats later, Super Reece (Alexiades) is not just super with the trick plays, but also with the bat. On a 3-1 count, Super Reece has the right launch angle, speed and all of that scientific stuff we say at the Home Run Derby to bang a three run jack to right. Bananas are going into the ninth inning up 5~0.
In the top of the ninth with one out, Tre Jones would fly to left center, DR Meadows attempted a back flip trick play that was missed and he gets to second. Two batters later, Bret Carson is back in the batter’s box. Carson flies to left, Ty Jackson attempts to make a diving catch and could not hold on to the ball, this brings in Jones. Tailgaters finally get one on the board. With two out, Marcos Castillo would fly to right field. Alexiades would catch it and the ballgame is over.
Savannah Bananas win: Texas Tailgaters 1(2) ~ Savannah Bananas 5(8).
Tailgaters trick plays: 8 ~ Hussein (5!), Carson (1), Stanley (1) & Luders (1).
Bananas trick plays: 7 ~ Alexiades (2), Cox (2), Meadows (1), Ty Jackson (1), Jones (1). Cox gets his 500th career trick play.
Showman of the Night: Reece Alexiades - Savannah Bananas
Bananas and Tailgaters play at Philadelphia again for an afternoon game starting at 3:30PM. This game will be carried on nationwide broadcast television on The CW network.
In Norfolk, at the final Firefighters headliner for the year, The Party Animals had a big 5-run sixth inning. Bryce Bloomer of the Party Animals, as well as Logan Lacey and Stephen Cullen for the Firefighters each had three trick plays. Party Animals sweep the Norfolk series.
Party Animals win: Party Animals 4(10) ~ Texas Tailgaters 2(2).
Party Animal trick plays: 7 ~ Bloomer (3), Jacobo (2), Baber (1), Hampton (1)
Firefighters trick plays: 7 ~ Lacey (3), Cullen (3), Spence (2), Green (1) and Dearman (1).
Showman of the Night: Dalton Ponce
The Firefighters will be back on the Savannah Bananas headliner show next weekend (8/1~8/2) at Camden Yards in Baltimore. Sorry, the Michi will not be there for this one, even though it is semi-close. Friday night’s game should be on ESPN and Saturday night’s on ESPN2.
The Party Animals will be headlining two shows in St. Paul at CHS Field against the Tailgaters on 8/1~8/2.
Catch games live and time shifted on the respective team’s YouTube Channel.
All screenshots: Fans First Entertainment. YT @TheOfficialFirefighters (fair use).
Additional credit: official scoresheets from Josh Talevski (X: @JoshTalevski)
Game Replay
A banana on a carmelized New England Roll with mint topping, fresh sliced strawberries and Hershey’s syrup. Myself, I will just have a Dodger Dog.